Riverbrian

Ok... This thread becomes a poll... Dave has under 5.5 per year and I have over 5.5 on Lannan. Who will win? To make it more interesting... If he signs for exactly 5.5 avg. per year. We both have to express the exact opposite of what we actually think on this site for a week.

Hold on... Now much are those Diamondcentric shirts??? My wallet for sure has an over/under. I just looked them up... The nothing runs like Revere shirt would be perfect for both of us... 6 bucks... Are you in?

I mean, honestly neither of us know. But I am willing to bet Lannan doesn't get the 6 million for one year on the open market he would have got through arb. I would be willing to do a friendly wager if you want? Loser buys the winner a Diamondcentric t-shirt? terms: If lannan gets a one year deal it's less then 6 million. if he gets multi year its less then 5.5 mill per season. Im not sure he gets 6 in arb,.. Make it 5.5 per year for a 1 year or Multi year deal... 5.5 avg. per year will be the over/under. I'll take the bet just for the sport. Even tho... I kinda think you will win.

Lannan is younger with better numbers with the numbers that matter anyway. I dunno, Blanton can at least strike guys out. I wouldn't want Lannan at 1 year 5.5-6 mil anyways (which is what he would have prob got) Again there is a good chance Hendriks would out preform him this year. The Twins need to be either: 1. Signing/trading for high upside guys. 2. If they are signing back of the rotation guys, spend no more then 1 year/2-3 mil a piece. That might of been his thought but Im not so sure after looking at Blantons deal. ill take Lannan if TR wants him because we need extra arms because someone or two is gonna get hurt. But yeah.. He ain't my fave. The prices are nuts... It's looking like TR should have taken him in the Span trade... I guess we will see in time.

al·lude [ ə ld ] mention indirectly: to refer to something or somebody indirectly, without giving a precise name or explicit identification Synonyms: refer, make reference, make allusion, mention, indicate, suggest, talk about, touch on, introduce, refer in passing, make a passing reference lol... Thanks nurse... That's good stuff. All words should be explained just like that... If someone collected all the words and put them in a book with definitions. It would be a good book to have. Lots of folks would buy it. Its probably too much work tho... So it's probably an unreasonable dream.

That might of been his thought but Im not so sure after looking at Blantons deal. Lannan is younger with better numbers with the numbers that matter anyway.

I really don't understand your affection for junky contact pitchers. Pelfrey, Lannan, Nick Blackburn circa 2012, and Jason Marquis are all extremely similar numbers wise. High WHIP, Bad SO/BB, and 4's ERA. They're all #5s at best when they luck out and when they don't you'll be screaming at the TV. Are those guys all bad? I guess not, but they aren't good by any means.They were non-tendered for a reason, however, and that's because they aren't even worth 4+ million. Pitching is the last area that a FO should ever cut corners on budget wise. Right now, Minnesota has plenty of money to sign two very good pitchers. The Twins need front line, good starting pitchers. Signing those first two would be more of the same. If Pelfrey pitches for us next season I will feel lowballed and backstabbed by the Pohlads. Thats ok... Cuz I don't understand it either... I guess it comes down to my expectations and trying to keep them reasonable right now... If it was my money... I'd target the guy I liked best and spent unreasonably to get him. Someone under 30 and for at leadt 3 years... Jackson or Sanchez I guess.... Because Greinke would have blown the whole budget. After Jackson or Sanchez... We still need more and that is where... Pelfrey comes in... Along with Marcum and Villanueva... Pelfrey has been inconsistent but he's had some decent years and we need arms. We gotta roll the dice on someone. As for Lannan... He isn't on my list... It just seems like he is on Terry Ryan's list... Therefore Im curious why they didn't just include him in the Span trade.

Lets say its 88 games like last year... The Twins won 66 last year. Just 16 more wins and you are 82-80 and that puts you in contention. If you are in contention. Deadline deals can be made to improve the squad... The team will play with more competitiveness. Everything can change. 16 more wins... That's one more win every ten games... If anyone thinks that isn't do-able... They lack something or haven't really put it in perspective.

Seriously... That's how you spell Elude? lol... I've been spelling it allude my whole life and I love that word... I use it all the time and no one has ever corrected me... I spit my beer out of my nose laughing. So it seems that the spelling of Allude... ELUDES me... Too funny. Lannan was non tendered a day after the Span trade I believe... I guess we will have to see if he goes cheaper. He might and I assume that was TRs thought... He might lose this dice roll tho. P.S. Jokin... I purposely spell though wrong.

I gotta bring this thread back to the top for a revisit. I've been reading more and more from different sources that the Twins are talking with Lannan... Levelle wrote about it... I believe I saw it on MLB trade rumors. Yes just rumors so it doesn't mean it's true... But if its true... Why is this necessary... If they are interested in Lannan... Washington could have just included him in the Span trade since they released him anyway. I don't know for sure but I think they are talking with Lannan. It alludes me.

Well done... Right on the nose... I use the same method for my March Madness brackets.. I used to watch my final four teams drop out early. Then I came up with a better method... I now pick them after the game... I've only missed two total in the past 3 years using this method.

I don't want to make it sound like I am questioning you, but I'm trying to figure out what is the Wichita connection, if any? Yeah, high school and college at Wichita State. I live half a block from the park and work with a very very close family friend. I didn't press to much about the velocity thing, whether it just feels zippy or on the gun. I can ask more later. I don't want to speak out of turn but I believe that he has some non-baseball reasons to want to be in Minnesota as well so that plus a pretty damn good chance to make the rotation would make sense. If he wants to be there it should help with the Boras effect. I'd take him in a heartbeat if the money makes sense. I'll take your word on it... If So... I hope it happens because Pelfrey is one of the guys I'd like to see in a Twins uniform.

Completely disagree. Span is a very good CF and Revere is a great CF. They are both pretty elite with the glove. If Revere had a better arm, he would be hands down the best in the game right now. Bad jumps? You obviously didn't watch this kid play very often. Revere consistently got to balls that I wouldn't have thought anyone would get to. You want to knock him, knock him on the bonehead plays when the ball bounced out of his glove. I don't get the hate here. I can't argue if Hicks is a better defender because I haven't seen him play. I can't argue with the poster cmathewson because I don't know if he has seen both Hicks and Benson play. I have seen Benson play in his Sepetember call up and he was decent. Comparing that small Benson sample size with the larger Revere sample size. Not even close... In my opinion. The bad jump thing. Sometimes sure... But not enough to tag him with it. Yet the tag seems to be there along with the base runners running wild thing. Objectivity left the building with some along time ago... And yes maybe with me as well... But I swear I'm trying. Now if Hicks and Benson are better defenders than Revere like Mathewson said. All I got to say is WOW!!! Make that double WOW!!! Because Revere already made me say WOW!!!

Trading Revere frees up less than a million, to be replaced presumably by someone at half a million - how does this allow the Twins to spend what it takes to get a top starter? Probably cause it allowed us to fill a spot in this year's rotation for almost nothing (difference between Revere's and Worley's contract) so now the available money doesn't have to be spread out so much, allowing the quality of pitchers to, hypothetically, go up Exactly... We need one less now and that in itself... Frees up money.

I was hoping for a starting pitcher... But I have no idea on the value of any of these guys.

I think that is reading to much into it, I mean one of the largest free agent pitching signings this year went to the Royals. I think he just meant "we put some legit offers on the table, and those players haven't signed yet" which for the most part is pretty damn true. It was a rather quiet winter meetings when it was all said and down, **** the Twins were probably the biggest "mover and shaker" of the bunch this year! IMO none of the top 7 or so free agent pitchers are even off the board yet (or even close), let's give it a little more time before we declare no decent pitchers want to come to Minnesota (unless you think we truly missed out on the Feldman's etc of the world) On another note not related to your comment: As far as Blackburn goes, jesus people, stop reading to much into his comments. He basically expressed the fact that he would like to see Blackburn succeed again. Multiple other times he said that he needs to go out and sign some more pitchers for 2013, in fact he said basically all the rotation he now has, currently is Diamond and Worley. He isn't counting on Blackburn even closely at this point. With that said, Blackburn has struggled, a ton, but unlike a guy like Chone Figgins who is a clubhouse cancer, the Twins like Blackburn's attitude, which is exactly why instead of cutting him (and eating the contract anyways) they are going to let him pitch in AAA to try to "reprove" himself for the club. I don't see how anyone can really be against this, especially with the supreme lack of SP we have. For as "crappy" as we all think Blackburn is, it should be pointed out that in 3 of the 4 years prior to 2012, Blackburn posted an ERA that was perfectly acceptable for a #4 or #5 in the AL. Criticizing Ryan for "rooting" for Blackburn to succeed this year is pretty petty to be honest. Either way, Ryan doesn't count on him being a solution to the 2013 rotation anyways. Well said, this idea that "no one will come here" is based on some sort of ridiculous insecurity. If the Twins offer the most money, free agents will come here, especially pitchers who know this won't be their last contract as pitching in TF provides them a boost. And again on BlackBurn. We all HOPE he bounces back. He's not on the 40 man anymore, so he's going to have to earn it if he does bounce back... The reality says that the odds of this happening aren't very good, but none-the-less, we can hope that he returns to the 2008/2009 Nick B... I don't get the angst b/c Ryan said he hopes for Blackburnto bounce back. I'd be worried if he didn't. I have always thought the whole "players only want to play for a PROVEN WINNER" is a little far fetched as well. If you have the money, they will come. Also it isn't ridiculous to think the Twins can't return to contention within the next 2 years, they have the core pieces, the cash flow and the GM to do it. This isn't exactly the Miami Marlins or Pittsburgh Pirates we are talking about. I think a majority of players will sign for the most money... However, All things being equal... They will choose a home town team or a better chance to win to break those ties.

On Blackburn... I'm ok with Terry Ryan not closing the door on him. I'm sure expectations are in check for Terry Ryan. Marquis was bad last year as well... Not so Bad with the Padres... Players have bad years and bounce back. It has happened before. I'm not saying that I expect it to happen nor would I count on it. I'm just saying it's happened before and often enough to know it's out there. As for Blackburn being brought up during the interveiw... Unless an interview is pre-scripted... I wouldn't worry too much about the answers you get. At least minor details of the answers you get. Keep in mind that the MLB producers and crew typically have a fairly good idea where the show is going. Rosenthal will know ahead of time that in segment three they are going to talk about the Upton Blockbuster and he has time to prepare what he is going to say. Those papers on the desk are notes and it helps them not make gaffes on the air. Not to mention... Actual Teleprompters that contain scripts. Terry Ryan was called in for an interview and he most likely wasn't there all morning preparing stuff to get loaded into the prompter. Interviewees Like Terry Ryan who don't have that advantage... Will have to field the questions and process them in an instant and answer them. So as Terry Ryan is trying to sound positive that we have some arms to round out a rotation if needed. He started listing names and if Terry Ryan had time to prepare for the question and questions... He probably wouldn't have started listing names off the top of his head and Blackburn wouldn't have came out. He just talked himself into a corner... Happens all the time. I'd give him a break. The Pitching staff is troubling and he said... We need pitching.

For Context... Terry Ryan said "they can't give their money away" and it was followed by him laughing. I've never seen him laugh before. He didn't look comfortable laughing... It seemed unnatural to me... That in itself made me laugh. Terry Ryan trying to entertain the MLB Crowd. Kinda like Alan Greenspan telling a joke. But I do agree... The 2012 product probably has an effect on 2013 Free Agents. I think the Twins will have to add a little more to the bottom line to sign someone. On top of that the current prices that you said were coming are not helping the situation.

Glunn... The only pitcher I've seen is Worley and I think he's a solid pick up. As for Meyer and May... Meyer looks like the better prospect but Meyer didn't come with Worley so I gotta go with Revere.

I don't think it's totally accurate to say the are punting... I'd say it was 1st down and 40 and they just completed a 15 yard pass. It's 2nd down and 25 to go.

I think the Twins like almost every team will say that the best player will start and the Arb clock has nothing to do with it. However... I notice that a lot of top notch prospects are consistently called up after the Arb clock. I think Hicks will start in CF in Rochester regardless if he tears the cover off the ball in the pre season.

Yeah... but... You are from Canada. You have a Bear, Loon, Elk and Beaver on your coins and you bring them down to the states and they get mixed in at the convenience store and they end up in my pocket and they don't work in our Soda Machine. As for Blackburn... I think Terry was just trying to think of a name to say on television.

I will raise my Hand and say that I without a doubt hope that Blackburn Bounces Back. I won't bet the house on Blackburn bouncing back... But I really really hope that he bounces back and I personally believe that Terry Ryan also hopes that Blackburn bounces back and I think Terry Ryan is also not betting the house on Blackburn bouncing back. I think it's part of the reason why he want to acquire more arms and mentioned a bunch of times during the segment that he needs arms. I also think that "Blackburn Bouncing Back" would make a great title for a song.

I'm ready for someone to provide a list because I don't feel like researching it myself. Would love to do some imaginary shopping.

Reading this post, I'm not clear how adding just Vance Worley/subtracting your lead-off batting CFer w/ no obvous replacement- and- the premeire defensive RF- makes this team better. One additional mid-back-rotation starter stabilizes and balances the team but one day a week Like I said... it would be tough for me to explain. Maybe this way... Let's say the Twins went out and were just given... Tulowitski, Cano, Longoria and Hamilton. Free pick ups for the Twins... It would be easy to say that the Twins would be an improved team. No doubt... Or would they... The Twins are out of balance. Those bats would be explosive but the Pitching just trumps it. We may have increased talent but have little to show for it. On the other side... If the Twins just simply added some arms that can keep the huge numbers off the board. Now you got a ball game and you can start to see what kind of team you have. Even if you lose a couple of players on the offensive side. A pitching staff can give you an opportunity. It's better balance in my opinion. Like I said... It's hard to explain and I'm sure that some dandruff is falling from the head scratching. How bout this way... I know Worley is just one guy... There is more work to be done on the mound but each improvement in the pitching staff is an improvement overall because the Pitching was so far down and you really can't improve until the pitching catches up and it has a lot of catching up to do... Losing offense will not hurt at all because it was going to hurt anyway until the pitching improves. You gotta balance things out to find out what you have on either side. Just theories of mine. I wish I could express this one better.